SECAmb: Know When To Call 999 Or 111

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is supporting NHS England in a public information campaign on when to call 999 and NHS 111.

All of the Trust’s operational ambulances and cars will carry messages on how the two services work together. The posters, which have been designed and funded by NHS England, have this week started to be placed on vehicles.

The Trust hopes the posters will help remind people that 999 is for serious and life-threatening emergencies only and to contact NHS 111 when they require urgent advice and assistance for conditions that are not life-threatening.

SECAmb Head of Fleet and Logistics John Griffiths said, “We pleased to be able to assist in ensuring these important messages are communicated to the public via our vehicles. We hope that the presence of the posters on highly visible ambulances and cars will remind people to make the right choice.”

Dr Helen Thomas, National Medical Advisor for Integrated Urgent Care said, “It’s really good to see the NHS 111 non-emergency number sitting alongside 999 on these ambulances.

“This gives a clear message that 999 is for life-threatening emergencies - but if you’re in need of urgent help and it’s not an emergency there is another number to call – NHS 111.

“The service is now helping around 15 million callers a year to get the right care in the right place, first time – reducing pressure on A&E and 999 services.”